The Blues had one of the – if not the – biggest contingents at Sunday’s Tamworth District Junior Rugby Club’s Carnival.

They’ve got two sides in every age group.

“It’s the strongest the club has ever been,” president John Beynon said.

“We’ve got about 135 registered players.”

“And U14s for the first time.”

In the 12s they’ve almost got enough for three teams.

Beynon coaches one of the 12s. 

“The 12s I coach didn’t lose a game,” he said.

“From what I understand the other one’s done well.”

The carnivals are one of the only avenues for their juniors to get games.

There is the Wednesday schools competition but that doesn’t start until Term 3.

“They’re great carnivals,” Beynon said.

For their big trips, like Moree in a couple of weeks, they try to all go away together and stay the night before.

And while they are technically not part of Central North they are invited to host a carnival at the end.

This year that will be on August 31.

The Blues growing numbers is indicative of a promising bigger picture with junior rugby picking up in New England as a whole.

The zone this year fielded teams at the junior Country Championships for the first time in a number of years.

They sent four teams away – U12s, U13s, U14s and U15s.

Often they were coming up against bigger and better-prepared sides but acquitted themselves well and had several players shine.

Percy Duncan was voted the best back for the 15s while Charlie Radford recieved the encouragement award for the 14s.

The following week New England U12s captain Benji Marshall was named best forward for the tournament.

Beynon, who is also the zone president, said it was an outstanding achievement considering he didn’t play two games on the Sunday due to a foot injury.

“What was also encouraging to see was the demographic mix in the boys that attended this year’s Country Champs,” he said. 

“Rugby union is no longer only a “Private School” sport. 

“There was a great mix of boys from all walks of life, which augers well for the future of the sport here in the New England.”